Effects of Liming on Acid Soil to Improve Growth and Yield in Soybean (Glycine max L. Merill)

Soil acidity limits crop productivity and affects food security, household income as well as the environment. Given the consequences of soil acidity, appropriate measures such as sustainable use of agricultural lime could be an option to enhance the productive capacity of acid soils. The study was conducted to assess the growth, yield, and yield components of soybean response to liming in acid soil. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot with four replications at the Crop Museum, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania. Three soybean varieties (Bossier, Laela, and Uyole soya-1) were used as the main plot, and four levels of lime (L0:0, L1:1560; L2:936, and L3:624 kg/ha) were used in the subplot. The analysis of variance revealed that the variety Uyole soya-1 had the highest average number of filled pods per plant, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, and 100 seed weight. The variety Laela had the highest grain yield (kg/ha) of all the varieties used in the study. The results also showed that the application of 1560 kg/ha of lime in acid soil raised the soil pH from 5.0 to 6.5 thus having a significant influence on growth, yield and yield components

Effects of Liming on Nodulation, Nitrogen Fixation and Seed Protein Content in Soybean

Soil acidity is influenced by high levels of aluminium, iron, manganese and low levels of Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC), plant nutrients availability such as phosphorus, affect the growth of symbiotic-fixing bacteria in soybean which is detrimental to nodule formation and functioning. In an attempt to evaluate liming effects on soil pH, nitrogen fixation and seed protein content, an experiment was set up using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) layout in a split-plot with four replications at the Crop Museum, the Sokoine University of Agriculture in Morogoro, Tanzania. Soybean genotypes (Bossier, Laela and Uyole soya-1) were used as the main plot, while lime levels (1560, 936 and 624 kg/ha) were used as the subplot. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed a significant influence of lime levels on soil pH, quantities of nitrogen fixed and seed protein content. There was a significant difference (P = 0.001) observed among soybean genotypes with the application of 1560 kg/ha of lime (pH 6.5), recording the highest (7.6) nodule counts and nodule dry weight (19.26). Among the different varieties used in the study, Bossier was observed to have a fixed 24.46 kgN/ha, while Laela produced the highest (10.60%) seed protein content. Application of 1560 kg/lime observed a significant increase in kgN/ha (35.71) as well as a minimal increase (15.66%) in seed protein content at pH 6.5. Interaction effects (P = 0.05), however, observed Laela has fixed the highest nodule (7.6) counts, nitrogen fixation (44.90 kgN/ha), with Bossier recording the highest (20.22%) seed protein. The study revealed that the physiochemical properties of acid soil, as well as soybean yield components such as nodules, N2 fixation and seed protein content, can be maximally improved when limed with CaCo

Pigeon Pea and Cowpea-Based Cropping Systems Improve Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Colonisation of Subsequent Maize on the Alfisols in Central Malawi

Mycorrhizal associations contribute to the sustainability of crop production systems through their roles in nutrient cycling and other benefits in the soil-plant ecosystems. A two-year study was conducted on the Alfisols of Lilongwe and Dowa districts, Central Malawi, to assess the vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungal colonisation levels in pigeon pea, cowpea, and maize grown in sole cropping, legume-cereal, and legume-legume intercropping systems and in the maize grown in short rotation (year 2) as influenced by the previous cropping systems and N fertilizer application. The gridline intersect method was used to assess the VAM fungal colonisation levels. Results showed that all treatments that included legumes whether grown as sole crop, in legume-cereal or in legume-legume cropping systems in the previous year, had significantly higher (P < 0.05) VAM fungal colonisation of the rotational maize crop roots by a range 39% to 50% and 19% to 47% than those in maize supplied and not supplied with N fertilizer, respectively, in a maize-maize short rotation, at the Lilongwe site. A similar trend was reported for the Dowa site. Furthermore, there were positive correlations between VAM fungal colonisation and the plant P content, dry matter yield, and nodule numbers. Further studies may help to assess the diversity of VAM fungal species in Malawi soils and identify more adaptive ones for inoculation studies

Growth of Streptomyces isolates from four soils in Morogoro, Tanzania, under culture-media pH conditions other than their original environmental pH

Tanzania Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences (TaJONAS)A study was conducted to assess the ability of Streptomyces isolates to grow under pH conditions other than their original environmental pH. The study involved isolation of Streptomyces from soils in four different locations in Magadu area, Morogoro, Tanzania. The Streptomyces were isolated using the starch-casein agar medium and subsequently grown under different simulated pH conditions, both buffered and unbuffered, in the oat-meal medium. The results of the isolation revealed that the soils had a diversity of Streptomyces isolates, growth of each of which was favoured by particular pH conditions. For the soils with an original pH of 5.0 the growth of two cultures increased and one seemed to show a peak growth when the pH was decreased to 4.5. Others did not show much change in growth. The soils which had a pH of 6.3 had three cultures whose growth was improved when pH wasincreased beyond pH 6.3. Others were almost unchanged. Almost all cultures from soils of pH 7.0 had their growth decreased when pH of the growth medium was increased pH 7.0. The Streptomyces isolates from soils with an original pH of 8.1 showed little change in growth as pH was altered. The colors of the mature colonies that formed when theStreptomyces were grown at various pH levels were cream, white, blue, gray, brown and red, with the cream color being the dominant one. When results of growth of Streptomyces on an unbuffered medium were compared to that on buffered medium, there was generally poor growth of Streptomyces with the latter medium. It was concluded that these Streptomyces which would grow at the buffered pH levels were those that were adapted to those pH conditions. However the unbuffered medium could allow the development of micro-sites with different pH and wider range of pH values conducive to growth of a wider variety of strains

Growth of Streptomyces isolates from four soils in Morogoro, Tanzania, under culture-media pH conditions other than their original environmental pH

Tanzania Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences (TaJONAS)A study was conducted to assess the ability of Streptomyces isolates to grow under pH conditions other than their original environmental pH. The study involved isolation of Streptomyces from soils in four different locations in Magadu area, Morogoro, Tanzania. The Streptomyces were isolated using the starch-casein agar medium and subsequently grown under different simulated pH conditions, both buffered and unbuffered, in the oat-meal medium. The results of the isolation revealed that the soils had a diversity of Streptomyces isolates, growth of each of which was favoured by particular pH conditions. For the soils with an original pH of 5.0 the growth of two cultures increased and one seemed to show a peak growth when the pH was decreased to 4.5. Others did not show much change in growth. The soils which had a pH of 6.3 had three cultures whose growth was improved when pH wasincreased beyond pH 6.3. Others were almost unchanged. Almost all cultures from soils of pH 7.0 had their growth decreased when pH of the growth medium was increased pH 7.0. The Streptomyces isolates from soils with an original pH of 8.1 showed little change in growth as pH was altered. The colors of the mature colonies that formed when theStreptomyces were grown at various pH levels were cream, white, blue, gray, brown and red, with the cream color being the dominant one. When results of growth of Streptomyces on an unbuffered medium were compared to that on buffered medium, there was generally poor growth of Streptomyces with the latter medium. It was concluded that these Streptomyces which would grow at the buffered pH levels were those that were adapted to those pH conditions. However the unbuffered medium could allow the development of micro-sites with different pH and wider range of pH values conducive to growth of a wider variety of strains

Contents of micronutrients in different vegetables grown in different locations in Tanzania: implications for soil fertility and nutrition potential of the vegetables

Tanzania Journal of Natural & Applied ScienceSamples of twenty two different vegetables were collected from different locations in Tanzania, in three replicates, with the objective of determining their micronutrient contents. The samples were washed, dried, ground, and asked in a muffle fiunace. The ash was dissolved in 10% nitric acid and the extracts made to volume in 25-m1 vohunetric flasks. Copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe) were determined using atomic absorption spec trophotorrktry. The data were subjected to analysis of variance. Results showed that the different types of vegetables contained different quantities of the nutrients. For example, Cu ranged from3.75 ng/kg in egg plant to 8.26 Ingice in sweet potato leaves. Zinc ranged from 13.54 mg/kg in African egg plant to 49.89 mg/kg in cassava leaves (rubber type). Manganese ranged from 15.21 rug/kg in egg plant to 137.19 mg/kg in cassava leaves (cassava) and Fe ranged from 102.08 in African egg plant to 478.11 mg/kg in Chinese cabbage. Within a given type of vegetable, nutrient contents were different across locations of sampling. For example, Cu in amaranthus fiomMorogoro varied from 6.25 rraikg to 7.5 rag/kg, while that fiomMbeya varied from 5 ng/kg to 10.62 mg/kg. Zinc in amaranthus from Mbeya varied from 25.31 rrg/kg to 40 n-alg, while from Vumari- Sank Zn varied from30.31 ap-ika to 39.06 nalg. Manganese in amaranthus fiom Mbeya varied from 89.37 rig/kg to 110 ng/kg, while from Morogoro varied fiom31.25 ng/kg to 35.62 ng/kg. Iron in amaranthus from Vumari-Sane varied from 318.75 mg/kg to 409.37 nig/kg, while from Morogoro Fe varied from 425 mg/kg to 531.25 nvkg. Similar variations were observed in the other types of vegetables. Copper was rated as being low (for pregnant and lactating women). Zinc was generally rated as being low; the rest of the nutrients in the vegetables were deeded adequate for human nutrition

Growth of Streptomyces isolates from four soils in Morogoro, Tanzania, under culture-media pH conditions other than their original environmental pH

Tanzania Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences (TaJONAS)A study was conducted to assess the ability of Streptomyces isolates to grow under pH conditions other than their original environmental pH. The study involved isolation of Streptomyces from soils in four different locations in Magadu area, Morogoro, Tanzania. The Streptomyces were isolated using the starch-casein agar medium and subsequently grown under different simulated pH conditions, both buffered and unbuffered, in the oat-meal medium. The results of the isolation revealed that the soils had a diversity of Streptomyces isolates, growth of each of which was favoured by particular pH conditions. For the soils with an original pH of 5.0 the growth of two cultures increased and one seemed to show a peak growth when the pH was decreased to 4.5. Others did not show much change in growth. The soils which had a pH of 6.3 had three cultures whose growth was improved when pH wasincreased beyond pH 6.3. Others were almost unchanged. Almost all cultures from soils of pH 7.0 had their growth decreased when pH of the growth medium was increased pH 7.0. The Streptomyces isolates from soils with an original pH of 8.1 showed little change in growth as pH was altered. The colors of the mature colonies that formed when theStreptomyces were grown at various pH levels were cream, white, blue, gray, brown and red, with the cream color being the dominant one. When results of growth of Streptomyces on an unbuffered medium were compared to that on buffered medium, there was generally poor growth of Streptomyces with the latter medium. It was concluded that these Streptomyces which would grow at the buffered pH levels were those that were adapted to those pH conditions. However the unbuffered medium could allow the development of micro-sites with different pH and wider range of pH values conducive to growth of a wider variety of strains

EFFECTS OF INOCULATION AND FERTILIZER N LEVELS ON N₂ FIXATION AND YIELDS OF SOYBEANS IN ONTARIO

Soybeans (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) often do not give yield responses to added fertilizer nitrogen (N) because high soil N levels inhibit fixation of atmospheric N2. Yield responses to N fertilizer applied at planting usually indicate that N2 fixation is less than optimal. The effects of inoculation with Rhizobium japonicum, and fertilizer N levels, on soybean N2(C2H2) fixation and seed yields in Ontario were investigated in ’ 1976 and 1977. Three locations were used each year, representing areas where soybeans had been grown for many years (Ridgetown), for only a few years (Elora), or not at all (Woodstock). Treatments were (a) Uninoculated + 0 N, (b–e) Inoculated + 0, 50, 100 or 200 kg N/ha. Results indicated that inoculation increased seed yields only when soybeans were introduced into new areas. Fertilizer N applications at planting time did not increase yields in areas where soybeans had been grown several times previously, indicating that N2 fixation could support maximum yields. Nodule number and mass, and N2(C2H2) fixation rates were all decreased by fertilizer N. An increase in nodule efficiency, later in the season, in high N treatments was most marked at Ridgetown. </jats:p